Daniel m



D. M. BA1-R. THILL GOUPLING.

(No Model.)

,367. PatentedJune 23. 1896.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL M. BAIR, OF BURNS, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE WV. RIOKERD, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,367, dated June 23, 1896. Application led May 23, 1895. Serial No. 550,374. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. BAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burns, in the county of Marion and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Thill-Ooupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in thill-couplings.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efiicient construction of thill-coupling for carriages, light springwagons, and other vehicles, by means of which the shafts may be readily attached to and disconnected from the vehicle and the liability of said shafts becoming accidentally uncoupled from the vehicle entirely overcome.

The invention possesses numerous advantages and points of superiority over all other devices of a similar nature, which will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thill-coupling constructed in accordance with this invention with a thill-iron shown applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is also a longitudinal section taken on a diiferent line and with the thill-iron omitted. Fig. l is a transverse vertical section taken through the perforations in the main body of the clip, showing the locking device and the actuating-springs therefor. Fig. 5 is also a transverse vertical section taken in line with the sockets which receive the trunnions of the thill-iron. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the pivoted clamping-arms.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates an axle-clip which is of the usual form, being provided with the ordinary downwardly-extending threaded shanks, by means of which it is secured in place around the forward axle of the vehicle. The main body of the thill-coupling device is formed integrally with said clip and projects in advance thereof. The coupling also comprises a pair of forwardly-extending rigid arms 2, which. are provided with offsets projecting outwardly therefrom upon opposite sides, and recessed to form sockets or bearings for the reception of the trunnions 4, projecting laterally from the sides of the rear end of the thill-iron, said trunnions being adapted to lie Within said bearing-sockets 3, and to be retained therein and prevented from escaping by means of an oppositely-disposed pair of clamping-arms 5. Each of said clamping-arms 5 is pivotally connected with the forward end of its respective rigid arm 2, by means of downwardlyextending parallel ears or lugs 6, formed integrally with said clamping-arm and provided with horizontally-alined perforations in line with a corresponding perforation in the forward end of the rigid arm, through which passes a rivet 7.

The outside ear or lug of each clampingarm is notched or cut out, as indicated at 8, which acts, in conjunction with the offset in which the socket 3 is formed, to form a stop for limiting the upward movement of the clamping-arm and preventing the shafts from being released by accident. of each clamping-arm is extended rearwardly in the form of a hook 9, which is adapted to rest beneath a trunnion on the thill-iron, and which forms a cheek-plate, which serves to support the thill-iron laterally and prevent the same from rattling. When the clampingarms are lifted for the purpose of releasing the thill-iron, the extensions or hooks 9 assist in lifting the trunnions 4. The clampingarms 5 are further provided with laterallyprojecting lugs 10, which when said arms are thrown down are adapted to cover the upper ends of the sockets which receive the trunnions l for the purpose of excluding dustor dirt therefrom.

11 designates an inverted- U -shaped frame, having a horizontally-extending central portion adapted to rest above the inner or rear hooked ends of the clamping arms, when thrown down ,and provided with downwardlyextending arms l2, passing through vertical perforations 13 in the main body of the clip. Suitable spiral springs 14 are arranged within said perforations and disposed around the The inner lugV ICO arms 12 of said frame, said springs being held or supported vertically beneath internallyarranged shoulders at the upper ends of said perforations. The lower ends of the arms 12 receive nuts 15, which are located beneath the lower ends of said spiral springs and serve, when said frame is lifted, to compress said springs. The upper cross-bar of the lockingframe 11 is provided with a vertical offset 16 at its center, said offset receiving a lever 17, which is fulcrumed on a pin 1S, supported between parallel lugs 19 on the forward face of the axle-clip. 2O indicates a spiral spring, which is seated in a cylindrical socket 21 within the main body of the clip and bears, at its upper end, beneath the locking-frame 11 or the lever by which said locking-frame is manipulated. The springs above described serve to effectually prevent the rattling of the clamping-arms and also of the lockingframe.

In order to prevent the thill-iron from rattling, I provide a spring 22, which is located beneath the rear end of the coupling-iron around which said spring is partially7 curved. The spring 22 has a rearwardly-extending tongue, which enters a socket 23 in the body of the clip an d is also provided with a forward extension, which engages a groove 24: in a cross-bar 25, connecting the forward ends of the rigid arms 2 of the coupling. The spring 22 is thus supported at both ends and bears against the thilliron with a force sufiicient to prevent the same from rattling. The spring 22 is further bent in such manner as to form a catch-lip 25, which is adapted to engage a rib or a pair of ribs 26, formed upon the thilliron, as indicated, for the purpose of holding the shafts elevated preparatory to hitching up a horse.

By means of the construction above described, a very simple and efficient form of thill-coupling is obtained by means of which the shafts may be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a vehicle. By the arrangement and form of the springs described, the clamping-arms are prevented from becoming disengaged and the rattling of the thillirons and the several parts of the coupling Obviated.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrifie ing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination with the body thereof, of a forwardly-extending pair of rigid arms having sockets for the reception of trunnions on the thill-iron, pivoted clamping-arms hinged to said rigid arms, an inverted-U-shaped locking-frame having its terminals arranged in openings in said body, and a spiral spring connected with said locking-frame for throwing the saine into and out of engagement with said clamping-arms, substantially as described.

2. In a thill-coupling, an axle-clip and a forwardly-projecting pair of rigid arms thereon having sockets for the reception of trunnions on the thill-iron, in combination with clamping-arms hinged to said rigid arms, stops for limiting the movement of said clamping-arms, a U-shaped locking-frame having its terminals arranged in openings in said clip, spiral springs surrounding said terminals for actuating said lock and holding the same in engagement with the clamping-arms, a lever for manipulating said lock, and a spring located beneath and bearing directly against said locking-frame and lever, substantially as specified.

3. In a thill-coupling, a forwardly-project ing pair of rigid arms, in combination with a thill-iron having laterally-proj ectin g trunnions adapted to be received and engaged by said arms, and a spring arranged beneath the thill-iron and bearing against the same, said spring bein g provided at one end with a tongue engaging a socket in the main body of the clip and at its opposite end extended to en gage a grooved cross-bar connecting said rigid arms, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL M. BAIR. Witnesses:

JOHN L. KOEBELE, LEE S. MERWIN. 

